Yerba de bicho is a medicinal plant, also known as water pepper, marsh pepper, persicaria, capiçoba, cataia or curage, rich in flavonoids, tannins and organic acids, which give it anti-inflammatory properties. inflammatory, healing and vasoconstrictive, and is therefore popularly used to treat hemorrhoids or wound healing.
The scientific names for weed are Polygonum hydropiper, Polygonum persicaria or Polygonum acre, and the aerial parts of this plant are normally used to prepare tea, ointments or sitz baths. However, it can also be found in the form of tablets or capsules.
Weed can be purchased at herbalists, health food stores or compounding pharmacies, and should be used under the guidance of a doctor or other health professional who has experience with the use of medicinal plants.
What is it for
Weed has many health benefits, the main ones being:
1. Help in the treatment of hemorrhoids
Weed is rich in tannins with anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive and healing properties, which help to reduce inflammation and swelling of the veins, being especially useful to help treat external hemorrhoids. See also other treatment options for hemorrhoids.
2. Prevent poor circulation
Weed has an anti-inflammatory action that can help stimulate blood circulation and prevent poor circulation, which is why it is used to help treat varicose veins or varicose veins, for example.
3. Help with skin healing
Weed has healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and can be used on the skin to accelerate wound healing. Furthermore, this plant can also be used for skin problems such as acne, pimples or erysipelas.
4. Reduce fluid retention
Weed can be used to help reduce swelling, reducing fluid retention throughout the body due to its diuretic properties.
Furthermore, due to the increased elimination of water by the body, yerba de bicho can help in the treatment of urinary infections.
7. Relieve menstrual cramps
Due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, yerba de bicho can help alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by menstrual cramps.
8. Reduce pain
Weed has analgesic properties that help reduce generalized or localized pain, which can reduce sensitivity and discomfort and help treat arthritis, rheumatism or muscle pain, for example.
How to use
The parts used are its aerial parts, from which substances with medicinal properties are extracted, generally for preparing tea, sitz baths or ointments.
1. Weed tea
Herb tea can be prepared with the aerial parts of this plant, found in health food stores, and used for problems with poor circulation, arthritis, rheumatism or muscle pain, for example.
Furthermore, this tea can also be used to wash the skin in case of pimples, lesions, rashes, or superficial wounds.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of animal weed;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation mode
Add the ingredients to a pan and put it on the fire. As soon as it starts to boil, turn it off, cover and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Then wait for it to cool, strain and drink 1 cup, 1 to 2 times a day.
This tea must be consumed on the same day as preparation, and any unconsumed quantity must be discarded.
2. Sitz bath with animal weed
The herb sitz bath can be used to help treat external hemorrhoids.
Ingredients
- 20 g of horseweed;
- 1 liter of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add the herb to a bowl of boiling water and let it cool. When it is warm, strain and sit in the basin for about 20 minutes or until the water cools. Do this sitz bath about 3 to 4 times a day.
3. Weed ointment
Weed ointment can be used to treat various skin problems, such as closed wounds, ulcers, varicose veins or even external hemorrhoids.
Ingredients
- 2 spoons of dried horseweed leaves;
- 100 mL mineral oil;
- 30 mL of liquid paraffin.
Preparation mode
Place the dried leaves in a pan and cover with mineral oil. Turn on low heat and let it boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Then, strain and mix this oil with the same amount of liquid paraffin until a homogeneous mixture is formed. Pour into a glass container and keep it properly covered.
4. Compressed bug weed
Animal weed tablets or capsules can be found in health food stores to combat hemorrhoids, varicose veins or poor circulation.
Doses may vary according to the amount of yerba de bicho in the composition of the tablets or capsules, and therefore, their use should only be carried out under the guidance of a doctor or a professional with experience in medicinal plants, with individualized doses.
Possible side effects
Side effects that may occur when using yerba de bicho are stomach irritation when taken in the form of tea or tablets.
Furthermore, this plant when used on the skin can cause skin irritation or swelling.
Weed can also cause allergic reactions and, therefore, its use should only be done with medical advice or from a healthcare professional with experience in medicinal plants.
Who shouldn’t use
Yerba de bicho should not be used by children, breastfeeding women or pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriage.
Furthermore, this plant should also not be used by people who are allergic to horseweed, have kidney or liver problems.
